Mine clearing snake



June 13, 1950 .1. E. POOL 2,511,005

MINE CLEARING SNAKE Filed Sept. 28, 1945 Fig.1

John E. Pool am; KM

Patented June 13, 1950 (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928-; 370 0. G. 757) 1 Claim.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to explosive charges, and particularly to those which are adapted to extend over substantial linear distances, the same being known in the art as linear explosive charges, or snakes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a flexible linear explosive charge that may be coiled into a compact space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a linear explosive charge that may be projected over a mined area and detonated to clear the area of explosive charges placed therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide an explosive charge of the type described which is sufliciently flexible to permit its being fitted to the contour of an object for demolition.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more fully understood from reading the specification, in conjunction with the drawings, forming a part thereof,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the charge with successive layers thereof removed;

Figure 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the charge; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a modification showing the detonating cord inside the casing.

Referring to the drawings, the linear charge comprises a, fiexible casing I filled with an explosive 2. Extending within or along the side of the casing I is a detonating cord 3 (such as primacord) the same having a waterproof coating. The explosive filled casing I and primacord 3 are inclosed in an outer jacket 4 which may be braided, knitted or otherwise formed around the two explosive elements. The jacket 4 may be coated with a waterproof material 5, if desired.

The explosive 2 should be of the inert or insensitive type that is not detonated by mild shock and heat, such as trinitrotoluene and the plastic explosives which are exploded by a detonating wave only. More sensitive explosives may be used, but the degree of safety required with these explosives renders it impractical, if not impossible, to use a. standard braiding machine to encase them in the jacket 4 which may be employed easily and safely with the insensitive explosives.

The flexible casing I may be a seamless Cellophane tube, or other flexible plastic tube. Another casing, however, is one woven with fibre glass, as it is durable and strong enough to withstand rocket projection without rupturing. Preferably the detonating cord 3 is the standard Army waterproof type of primacord. The finished charge shown in Fig. 2 can be run through rollers or other means to make the finished product have a cylindrical outer surface.

The outer jacket 4 braided around the explosive-filled casing and primacord may be of any suitable material, such as cotton or synthetic fibres. The primary functions of this jacket are to furnish strength for the assembled linear charge, compact the explosive charge, and retain the primacord in close association with the explosive-filled casing. For these reasons, the preferred fibre used in a braiding machine for braiding the jacket is a linear polyamide synthetic resin fibre identified by the trade name Nylon. If desired, the jacket may be coated with a waterproofing material 5, preferably a flexible waterproof material such as a pitch or asphaltic coating.

A modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 contemplates arranging the primacord 3 inside the casing. This operation is easily performed when filling the casing I with the explosive 2. It is also possible to produce this form of the invention in a single operation by forming the casing I around a core comprising an insensitive explosive having primacord embedded therein. However, it is more economical and simple to have the primacord outside the casing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

An elongated mine clearing snake comprising a continuous, flexible, substantially uniformly tubular, non-explosive casing containing a continuous and uniformly flexible detonating charge, a flexible detonating cord extending longitudinally of said casing exteriorly thereof and in uniform engagement therewith, and a flexible outer jacket enclosing the said charge and casing and bondin the cord tightly against the casing.

JOHN E. POOL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 144,434 Boies Nov. 11, 1873 399,878 Graydon Mar. 19,1889 905,336 Lheure Dec. 1, 1908 927,968 Harle July 13, 1909 1,023,142 Ellsworth Apr. 16, 1912 1,512,714 Saucier Oct. 21, 1924 1,702,206 Fritzsche Feb. 12,1929

2,087,209 Lahey et al. July 13, 1937 2,102,024 Pearsall Dec. 14, 1937 2,171,384 Young Aug. 29,1939

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 541,444 Great Britain Nov. 27, 1941 

